Matthew Armstrong

Matthew’s musical journey began in 1984 when he was introduced to the trumpet through Education Queensland’s Instrumental Music Program. His dedication and years of practice led to his involvement with the Gold Coast Youth Orchestra (GCYO), where he played in the Symphony Orchestra and became a foundation member of the GCYO Big Band in 1991 under the leadership of Bruce Davidson. That same year, he received his first Musically Outstanding STudent (MOST) scholarship, followed by a second in 1993. Both scholarships gave him the invaluable opportunity to perform with the Big Band under the direction of the legendary Don Burrows.

In 1994, Matthew earned a position in the Queensland Youth Big Band, performing at high-profile events such as the World Gymnastics in Brisbane and a special collaboration with Ed Wilson. He furthered his music education at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music in 1996. During this time, he achieved his Associate of Music (A.Mus.A.) in trumpet performance from the AMEB and co-founded the contemporary brass quintet The Seventh Chapter. He continued his studies at QUT, completing a Bachelor of Education in 2001.

Matthew’s teaching career has been equally distinguished. Since 2001, he has worked with Education Queensland as an instrumental music teacher, guiding students aged 10–18 in brass, woodwind, percussion, and ensemble performance. He has conducted numerous ensembles, including concert bands, orchestras, and big bands. In 2003, he became the conductor of the now-defunct GCYO Concert Band and Wind Ensemble, and he also founded the Little Big Band as well as the conductor of the GCYO Big Band until 2019.

Matthew has further honed his conducting skills through professional development programs, including Symphony Australia’s conducting course under the mentorship of Peter Moore. He has also remained active as a performer, playing trumpet in productions at the Gold Coast Arts Centre and with the Education Queensland Wind Ensemble. Currently, Matthew showcases his versatility as a performer with the dynamic eight-piece band Madison Kat and originals band HEAVY WAX, entertaining audiences from the Sunshine Coast to Byron Bay with regular gigs across the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

Through his passion for teaching, performing, and conducting, Matthew continues to inspire the next generation of musicians while contributing richly to Gold Coast’s music scene.